African countries are rapidly digitizing their administrative services. To maximize the benefits for their citizens, they need reliable identification systems.
TECH5, a contactless biometrics solution provider, announced on Thursday, August 15, that it has partnered with the Mauritanian government and local integrator SmartMS to launch the pilot phase of a digital identification solution in Mauritania. Funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), this project aims to modernize the country's digital identity infrastructure.
"We are proud to be part of this project contributing to the technological transformation of the country. Mauritania looks to be on track to become one of the first countries to adopt fully digital national ID biometrically linked to its holder," said Ameya Bhagwat, TECH5 Chief Revenue Officer.
For this pilot phase, a software solution was developed to facilitate the digital integration and verification of citizens. Tested by over 70 people, this solution adheres to NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) standards for identity verification and incorporates biometric verification via OpenID Connect flows. This enables password-free access to the Mauritanian e-government portal. Users are verified by the application through a selfie, which is then compared to their digital identity derived from their passport or ID card.
The successful completion of the pilot project led to the recent launch of the "Houwiyeti" application, an innovative solution that combines functionality and security, leveraging open-source and digital technologies. This initiative is fully aligned with the Mauritanian government's and its partners' goals of promoting an inclusive and rights-respecting digital transformation. It also reflects a broader trend in Africa, where biometrics is playing an increasingly crucial role.
According to the "Biometrics - Global Market Trajectory & Analytics 2020" report published by the American research firm Global Industry Analysts, the biometrics market in Africa and the Middle East is expected to grow at an annual rate of 21%, while the global biometrics industry could reach $82 billion by 2027. This trend underscores the growing importance of biometric technologies in global digital development and their potential to transform governance systems and public services.
The implementation of this digital identity system in Mauritania represents a significant step toward the modernization and efficiency of public services. By providing secure and streamlined access to government services through a biometric-based mobile application, this system not only improves ease of access for citizens but also strengthens the security of digital transactions.
Samira Njoya
A tech entrepreneur with over 7 years of experience in software development, he has designed a digital security network aimed at protecting homes from attacks and break-ins.
Anatoli Kirigwajjo (photo) is a Ugandan computer scientist and entrepreneur, co-founder of Yunga Technologies, a company that develops community security devices for households. Founded in 2018, Yunga Technologies specializes in digital security technologies in Uganda. By leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT), the company designs tools aimed at preventing crime and enhancing community safety.
The Yunga system is a local digital emergency network that connects neighbors and links them to the police during emergencies. The device sends alert messages to other devices within the network, including the victim's coordinates and address, facilitating a swift community response. Notably, the system functions in areas without internet access, utilizing a long-range network with a 20 km radius. It can connect to both smartphones and basic phones via SMS.
Prior to founding Yunga, Kirigwajjo co-developed an application called E-liiso with two colleagues. This app captures a photograph of the eye and analyzes the image to detect conditions such as color blindness, myopia, hyperopia, and cataracts. He served as the Chief Technology Officer for the company behind this application, Sight for Everyone, from 2016 to 2017.
Kirigwajjo graduated from Makerere University, where he studied computer programming from 2011 to 2015. In 2023, he received the Engineering Innovation Award for Africa, presented by the Royal Academy of Engineering in the United Kingdom.
Melchior Koba
Committed to a greener future, Orange has set ambitious goals to reduce its environmental and climate impact across its 17 markets in Africa and the Middle East. Various initiatives are underway to achieve these objectives.
Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA) has converted 10,000 telecom sites and about 20 data centers to solar energy, the company said on Friday, as part of its strategy to bolster infrastructure resilience and maintain profitability.
For Jean-Michel Canto, Chief Climate Officer of OMEA, "Solarization is now a standard configuration for new sites, with an 11% increase in the number of solar sites each year."
In Liberia, where the electrification rate is 12%, the company has solarized 77% of its sites. Jabateh Dweh Charles, Power Manager Operations at Orange Liberia, said this reduced their carbon footprint and fuel consumption by 25% in 2023 compared to 2022.
OMEA's 2023 Corporate Social Responsibility report showed a more than 70% increase in renewable energy use compared to 2022, bringing the share to 32.8% of total energy consumption.
The company prioritizes site solarization and collaborates with energy partners (ESCO – Energy Service Company). In 2022, Alioune Ndiaye, Chairman of OMEA's Board of Directors, noted that solar energy supply saves up to 55 million liters of fuel annually.
These investments align with OMEA's "Lead the Future" and "Net Zero Carbon" by 2040 plans. The company aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2025 and 45% by 2030.
Dorothée Vignalou, Chief Financial Officer of OMEA, said, "We have always placed environmental and energy issues at the heart of our regional strategy. Recent crises have strengthened our determination to ensure sustainable management while addressing local community challenges."
Many African populations lack access to traditional banking services. As a result, fintech solutions are growing in popularity across the continent. These solutions provide alternative ways to access financial services.
PaySika, a fintech startup based in Douala, Cameroon, provides users with access to online financial services through a smartphone app.
Founded in 2020 by Roger Nengwe Ntafam and Stezen Bisselou, it aims to create affordable, seamless, and transparent banking experiences, with a focus on simplifying online payments.
The mobile app, available on iOS and Android platforms, has garnered over 50,000 downloads on the Play Store. Through that app, users can create an account within minutes to access various services.
PaySika offers virtual and physical cards, allowing users to receive payments from PayPal, trading platforms, online betting, royalties from YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and many others.
The service enables purchases at local and international stores, ATM withdrawals worldwide, and card management features such as blocking, unblocking, deleting, or setting spending limits.
It charges 1% on online payments and ATM withdrawals, and 2% for international transactions and mobile money withdrawals. However, it does not charge for alerts, monthly management fees, or card maintenance.
The minimum recharge amount is XOF100 ($0.16), with a minimum withdrawal of XOF600.
In August 2024, PaySika was named among the twelve finalists in the Ecobank Fintech Challenge.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
After his studies in France and the United States, he embarked on an entrepreneurial journey to simplify life for African populations. He offers the Senegalese diaspora living in Europe a digital solution to send money to their loved ones back home.
Lamine Tall (photo) is a Senegalese computer scientist and tech entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Cauri Money, a fintech company that enables the African diaspora to send money to their home countries. Founded in 2019, Cauri Money began its operations in January 2020, with a mission to facilitate money transfers from Senegalese expatriates to their families back home. The startup offers "a digital platform designed for African diasporas, aggregating alternative solutions to traditional money transfers at unbeatable prices."
SInce its creation, the platform’s stated ambition is to symplify money transfers from Europe to Senegal, while integrating Senegalese values and ensuring total security. Users can transfers between $0.17 and $10,000 fee-free with the platform ensuring optimal transparency for every transaction.
In addition to Cauri Money, Lamine Tall co-founded Samaritanz Technologies in 2017, a company that develops a social network to facilitate the collection and redistribution of food donations by non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Lamine Tall holds a bachelor's degree in information technology from SKEMA Business School in France, as well as a master's degree in business information technology from Virginia Tech in the United States. In 2016, he also earned a master's degree in strategy from EDHEC Business School in France.
His professional career began in France in 2016, where he worked as a junior associate at CGI Business Consulting. In 2018, he joined EY as a consultant in digital business transformation, before becoming a fintech and financial services consultant at Deloitte in 2019.
On August 3, 2024, his startup, Cauri Money received a $25,000 investment from artist Pharrell Williams as part of the Black Ambition program.
Melchior Koba
Lack of internet access can be addressed by making mobile phones affordable in African countries. This is crucial for ensuring that all citizens, regardless of their socio-economic status, can participate in the digital economy
The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) plans to launch a local smart device assembly program aimed at producing affordable mobile phones to bridge the significant digital divide in the country, Director General of MACRA Daud Suleman revealed on August 14. This was during the 3rd session of the National Youths Conversations hosted by the National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM) as part of commemoration of the International Youth Day 2024.
The Director General emphasized the importance of a collaborative effort from various stakeholders to enhance digital service access across the nation. “We need a multi-sectoral approach for citizens to have access to digital services at a reasonable distance,” he stated.
According to the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI), cell phones, particularly smartphones, are still inaccessible to low-income populations in Africa. This situation hinders the participation of most of Africa’s population in the digital economy. Without a phone, there is no way to connect to the Internet or use digital services. The price disparity between cell phones and average incomes also exacerbates digital inequalities. People who cannot afford these devices miss out on the benefits of digital technology, including access to information, financial services, online education, and economic opportunities.
While no specific launch date has been provided, the upcoming initiative is expected to address the disparity in digital access.
The initiative aligns with the Malawi 2063 (MW2063) agenda, which seeks to transform Malawi into a prosperous, self-sufficient, and industrialized 'upper-middle-income country' by 2063.
Hikmatu Bilali
Huawei South Africa is inviting tech-savvy women entrepreneurs to apply for its Huawei Women in Tech Digital Skill Training Program. This initiative, offered in partnership with the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, focuses on enhancing skills in 5G, Cloud, and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The program aims to empower women by providing advanced training in these critical technology areas. Interested applicants should be available to travel to the Huawei Office Park and Henley Business School Africa in Johannesburg between August 22 to August 28 for the training.
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has unveiled draft regulations for satellite services, encompassing SpaceX's Starlink. The proposed rules aim to establish a new licensing framework and address the challenges of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites.
The draft regulations cover authorization for satellite user terminals, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and spectrum management. ICASA is seeking public comments on the proposal by November 12, 2024, with feedback to be published online by November 30, 2024.
The Africa Fintech Summit (AFTS) has opened nominations for the 2024 Excellence in Fintech Awards. Since its inception in 2018, this event has consistently brought together key players in Africa's fintech ecosystem. This year's edition will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from Wednesday, September 4, to Friday, September 6. The public is encouraged to nominate startups and prominent figures within the ecosystem across various categories.
Digital transformation is essential for the socio-economic development of the country. The government is ramping up its efforts to successfully complete ongoing projects aimed at enhancing citizens' well-being through access to efficient and inclusive digital services.
The Burkina Faso Ministry of Digital Transition, Posts, and Electronic Communications has achieved a performance rate of 55% for the first half of 2024, according to an evaluation of its objective contract recently conducted by Prime Minister Apollinaire Joachimson Kyelem de Tambèla. This result reflects the ministry’s commitment to meeting the targets outlined in its roadmap.
According to the ministry's statement, key achievements contributing to this success include "strengthening the legal framework for the digital sector, digitizing certain administrative services, acquiring equipment to enhance and secure the digital network, and restoring electronic communication services in high-security challenge areas."
Despite this "satisfactory" performance, some projects have experienced significant delays. Efforts to rehabilitate existing infrastructure and extend digital services to rural areas have been hindered by security challenges, exacerbated by political instability, which has affected the ministry's ability to adhere to its initial timeline.
For the second half of the year, the ministry plans to intensify ongoing projects, including the digitization of at least 100 administrative procedures, the creation of citizen service centers to facilitate access to online services, and the implementation of the Digital Transformation Acceleration Project. These initiatives are part of a broader strategy to position Burkina Faso as a leader in Africa for integrating information and communication technologies (ICT) into key sectors such as public administration, education, health, commerce, and agriculture.
Despite these advancements, Burkina Faso faces significant challenges. According to the "Measuring Digital Development – ICT Development Index 2024" report published in June by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Burkina Faso ranks 43rd out of 47 African countries in ICT development. This ranking highlights the considerable obstacles the country must overcome to fully harness digital technologies and improve the living conditions of its citizens.
Samira Njoya
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Clear regulatory frameworks can foster innovation in the fintech sector, attracting investment and encouraging the development of new technologies and business models that can drive economic growth on the continent.
The Bank of Ghana (BOG) issued on August 16 a draft of guidelines designed to regulate digital assets. This move comes in response to the growing prominence of digital assets in the country. The Bank is currently seeking public input on the proposed measures and welcomes recommendations by August 31, 2024.
The draft guidelines are designed to outline the BOG’s proposed regulatory measures and invite feedback from industry stakeholders and the general public. The regulatory framework is expected to address the operations of exchanges and platforms involved in buying, selling, trading, and holding digital assets. It will also delineate which asset types are covered and regulate interactions between financial institutions and Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs).
The BOG plans to work with other regulatory bodies, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), to develop complementary frameworks that align with their respective regulatory roles. Once the framework is finalized, VASPs operating in Ghana will need to seek authorization from either the BOG or the SEC, depending on their services. Those failing to register within the designated timeframe will be deemed to be operating illegally.
The BOG has acknowledged ongoing challenges in the sector, including regulatory and legal uncertainties, cybersecurity risks, market manipulation, and consumer protection issues.
According to a 2023 report by Chainalysis, Ghana ranks among the top - 29 out of 154- countries globally in terms of cryptocurrency adoption. This indicates a high level of interest and use of digital assets in the country. The Bank’s action reflects a proactive response to the growing interest and use of cryptocurrencies, aiming to address potential risks and opportunities associated with their widespread adoption.
Hikmatu Bilali
The name M-Shule, means 'mobile school' in Swahili, a widely spoken language in East Africa. It has transformed online learning on the continent, especially in several countries within the East African region.
M-Shule is a digital platform created by a Kenyan startup to enable access to online courses in East Africa. Founded in 2017 by Claire Mongeau and Julie Otieno, the Nairobi-based startup targets underserved populations, particularly in regions where 80% of the population lacks smartphones or internet access.
The platform is designed to educate, engage, assess, and survey hard-to-reach populations in Africa, especially in areas where most people do not have smartphones or internet access.
“[...] By delivering an all-in-one learning platform possible with the simplest feature phone, M-Shule unlocks new opportunities for millions across Sub-Saharan Africa," the startup explains.
Users can initiate conversations with M-Shule from their mobile phones, asking questions to deepen their understanding of specific course topics. The platform tailors responses based on the user's previously provided education level, allowing them to learn at their own pace. If a concept is unclear, users can request further explanations, with responses available at any time.
Primary school students can use M-Shule to review courses in English, Kiswahili, and mathematics. Parents can monitor their children's progress from registration onward through automated reports sent via SMS to their phones. "Our student users have improved their classroom exam scores between 7%-20% higher than their peers; schools report their classroom planning and administration have improved thanks to our analytics, reporting, and remedial guidance," the startup notes.
In addition to supporting students, M-Shule facilitates surveys and awareness campaigns via SMS. The platform currently serves over 45,000 learners and operates not only in Kenya but also in Tanzania and Uganda. Educational support is provided in seven languages: Dholuo, English, Kamba, Kikuyu, Kiswahili, Ng'aturkana, and Somali.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
After finishing his accounting training, he furthered his skills by specializing in technology during his studies in China. With this combined expertise, he uses his knowledge of the financial sector to promote digital payments throughout Africa
Junior Octave Kankue Denkey (photo), an accountant by training and a seasoned tech entrepreneur from Togo, is the co-founder and CEO of MiaPay, a fintech startup dedicated to simplifying everyday payments by connecting merchants and consumers. Founded in 2023, MiaPay features a unified app and an integrated digital wallet, offering users a convenient method for making digital payments and accessing a variety of financial services. With MiaPay, users can recharge their wallets, transfer and withdraw funds, and make offline payments at hundreds of partner merchants.
MiaPay also streamlines taxi fare payments through QR code transactions, providing users with bonuses of up to 20% per transaction. Currently in beta in Togo, the startup plans to extend its operations to Benin and Burkina Faso. To enhance its service offerings, MiaPay aims to integrate features such as bill payments for electricity, access to instant loans, mobile phone top-ups, and meal ordering. On August 15, in Lagos, Nigeria, the startup qualified for the finals of the Ecobank Fintech Challenge 2024, which is set to take place on September 27 in Lomé.
In addition to MiaPay, Octave Denkey is also the co-founder and non-executive director of Kiosk Global, a social commerce platform established in 2023 that connects Chinese suppliers with African consumers. Prior to MiaPay and Kiosk Global, he launched several other startups.
In 2011, he co-founded Miaplenou Group, an online retailer based in Togo. In 2014, he founded Ahaa Tech, a company that enhances the experiences of foreign travelers in China by guiding them to unique places and events. In 2017, he was instrumental in establishing Zocentive, a lifestyle and wellness app, and two years later, he launched Sumo Tech, an innovative platform that connects merchants and consumers across Africa.
Octave Denkey holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and business management from the University of Lomé, which he earned in 2012. He also graduated from the South China University of Technology. From 2012 to 2020, he served as a One Young World ambassador in Togo, representing a global community of young leaders.
Melchior Koba
As digital transformation gains momentum, the demand for skilled labor is increasing. In Côte d'Ivoire, the government is working closely with the private sector to ensure that all citizens receive the necessary training to contribute to this shift.
Digital training center DigiFemmes announced on Wednesday its goal to train 1,000 Ivorian women in digital skills, leadership, and responsible technology use.
The initiative follows a memorandum of understanding signed between Nassénéba Touré, Minister of Women, Family, and Children, and DigiFemmes during the official launch of the DigiFemmes Caravan program on August 14.
"Through this caravan, we will offer a variety of training sessions, workshops, and resources to support women in their personal development and contribute to the progress of our nation. This program will enable thousands of women to acquire essential digital skills that will enhance their lives in every aspect," stated Nassénéba Touré.
The program aligns with DigiFemmes' mission to bridge the digital divide and supports the Ivorian government's view of digital technology as crucial for women's employability and empowerment.
In 2019, women represented 38% of the ICT sector workforce, with 30% in executive positions, according to Côte d'Ivoire's Data Protection Authority.
Since 2015, programs like Orange Foundation's Maisons Digitales have trained 4,738 women in digital fields, underscoring ongoing efforts for women's economic empowerment in Côte d'Ivoire.
The DigiFemmes partnership aims to improve women's integration into the digital economy, enhance leadership skills, and strengthen autonomy. It is expected to reduce the gender digital skills gap and foster innovation, contributing to the country's socio-economic development.
Samira Njoya